query: organizer-politicians

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

[ed:  please feel welcomed to copy COMM-ORG with replies to Peter's query.]

From: "Peter Dreier" <dreier at oxy.edu>


Friends,
 
I want to write another piece, to follow up my Nation piece, on former 
organizers who became elected officials -- in order to point out, 
contrary to Sarah Palin, that the skills and experiences of being an 
organizer are useful when in public office.  I could use some help in 
identify some of those folks - the higher profile, the 
better....particularly mayors, governors, Congressmembers...

 

Off the top of my head, I can think of the following:

 

Cong. John Lewis

Senator Barbara Milkulski of Maryland

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois

Karen Bass, California assembly speaker

LA Mayor Antonio Villaragoisa (former union organizer)

Former LA City Councilmember and Congressman Ed Roybal

Former Atlanta Mayor and UN Ambassador Andrew Young

Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy

Cong. Bobby Rush

CA Senator Gil Cedillo

Jay Westbrook. Cleveland City Council
Miles Rapoport - former Conn. Sec of State
Tom Hucker, Maryland general assembly
Tom Gallagher, former Mass. legislator
John McDonough, former Mass. legislator
Donna Edwards, Maryland
Mark Ritchi - Minn . Sec of State?
Chrystal Peeples -  New York legislator
Jesus (Chuy) Garcia - former Illinois state Senator
Bev Stein - executive of Multnomah County, Oregon
Beth Low, Missouri state legislator
 
Any other ideas?

 

Thanks.

 

Peter

----------------------------------------

Peter Dreier

E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics

Director, Urban & Environmental Policy Program

Occidental College

1600 Campus Road

Los Angeles, CA 90041

Phone: (323) 259-2913

Email: dreier at oxy.edu

Webpage: http://employees.oxy.edu/dreier

 

"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great 
moral crises maintain their neutrality" -- Dante